Diddy not only performed at the Florida Marlins Super Saturday Concert this past weekend down in South Florida, but he also threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Marlins and Atlanta Braves. Diddy’s wardrobe was on point as always, as the hip-hop mogul was seen wearing a pair of Kris Van Assche zip sneakers along with a pair of Carrera Champion Sunglasses. Diddy then worn the same kicks to the stage with Dirty Money after the game. via: UpscaleHype

If there’s anything the fashion world loves, it’s a good punk-rock reference. Trends may fade in and out, but it seems like year after year, season after season, the only influence that actually has staying power is rock music and the devil-may-care attitude that goes with it. And yes, while Dior Homme was under Hedi Slimane’s direction, the label brought the extremely tailored and skinny jeans back and began its traipse down the outlier bad-boy chic lane. In retaining some of Slimane’s vision, when Kris Van Assche took the baton from Slimane, he may have cut the Dior Homme man some slack, but he still keeps the punk-rock vision in plain sight. Meanwhile, for Van Assche’s eponymous label, he exerts a similar punk-rock sensibility to his designs, and it is quite evident through his footwear collection, especially the sneakers which manages to bring a hard edge to the sporty number.

While Kris Van Assche’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection takes an interesting play at proportions with a felt attempt to tread the fine line between volume and restrain, the footwear collection for the coming season reflects that delicate measured balance between sophistication and rugged toughness. Looking in detail, the materials and colorways used such as matte leather and crepe soles expresses respected masculinity, but on the other hand, layered leather straps, concealing zipper tongue and wrap around ankle laces paired with hidden lace plackets speak for the other vibe– a somber, Weimar-esque subtlety and stoicism. The high top sneaker boots are quite the culminating footwear of choice for the grown-up, poised rocker whose untamed stage persona exists in a dichotomous relationship with a gentlemanly wanderlust. Aside from two standout high-top sneakers with ankle wrapping details (resembling some pairs spotted in the Spring/Summer 2010 Dior Homme sneaker collection), there are slouchy boots and classic hi-top boots with buckle details. For those seeking just a slight touch of variation to sneakers, there are low-top and high-top models with contrasting leather cut out panels layered over the suede upper and held together in a deliberate haphazard manner by laces. As usual, the designer’s works venture on the dark side with monochromes and an occasional grey, promising that the sneakers will survive far beyond the changing trends of colors, living up to the sartorial dictum that black will always be the new black.  images via: My MANy Bags

As A BLOG curated by welcomes its guest editor of the month Kris Van Assche to bring his creative vision and aesthetic to the readers as the Belgian designer did for A Magazine curated by’s A#7 issue. Other than items from the magazine such as photography by Robert and Shana Parkeharrison, casting Polaroids by Jean Pierre Baux and a feature on Ouarzazate of Morocco, the blog gives readers a personal look into Kris Van Assche with a special interview about his experiences of working on A#7, balancing the magazine with his work at Dior Homme, working with respected personalities in the industry such as Sarah Moon, Nah Goldin and Jeff Burton. And, keep your eyes out for a vignette about a trip to the laundrette in Los Angeles with three male porn stars and Jeff Burton. Fun stories aside, Kris Van Assche does give readers insight into Kris Van Assche’s vision, work ethics and constant strive for inspiration and better design. Check out the interview at A Blog curated by Kris Van Assche.

This month, A Magazine Curated By and its blog counterpart, A Blog Curated By, welcomes readers to the world of Belgian designer, Kris Van Assche, the curator of the publication’s #7 issue.

While Kris Van Assche is currently the leading man of Dior Homme and has his own eponymous label under the belt, he worked his way up under Heidi Slimane at Yves Saint Laurent after graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at Antwerp. Van Assche draws inspiration for his work from varied landscapes and sources– formal wear from 19th century Paris, contemporary pop culture, tribal garbs from the African plains and muses ranging from faces of South American and Emilio Alix.

Kris Van Assche will be bringing his aesthetics and inspiration to A Blog Curated By and making them accessible to all and reflecting upon his work with A#7. Think breathtaking surrealistic photography by Robert and Shana Parkeharrison, Jeff Burton’s laundromat ad campaign for Kris Van Assche and of course, the man’s own work in fashion design and photography. Other than items curated by the Belgian designer, A Blog Curated By Kris Van Assche will also be releasing post production interviews with the designer, and some never-seen-before images from photographers behind A#7. Check out the video of A#7 and stay tuned with A Blog Curated By Kris Van Assche to get your month’s fill of fashion, art, and everything Van Assche. via: A Blog Curated By

Belgian designer and Artistic Director of Dior Homme, Kris Van Assche, fills an interesting niche by fusing radical, innovative design with the familiar and luxurious. After some pleasantly surprising wrap-around combat boots for the Autumn/Winter 09 footwear collection, the designer’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection continues to awe and amaze us.